A/N: I'm not sure how old Caesar and President Snow are but I couldn't imagine anybody but them being in this. It makes sense for Snow to be around the 60-80 range, and it's possible Caesar just had some major surgery.

Reina Xillia POV

Once again, the stupid Capital has gathered us all up to watch as they take two kids as human sacrifices. I don't know what's worse, watching people get whipped until there are pretty much dead, or the reaping.

I've never had to face severe punishment myself, but there were quite a few close calls. I don't exactly hide my hatred for the Capital. I want the world to see what idiots they are and that they gotta be stopped eventually.

I like to think of the Dark Days as something we could look back on like an achievement. Also, I think the Treaty of Treason is bullsh*t, but who doesn't? The gamemakers, the peacekeepers, the people in the Capital, and of course, our President Snow. To them, the Treaty of Treason is like water, without it, they would all be dead.

I know they made up that Treaty of crap to punish us, but have they ever thought that another rebellion will arise because of the treaty? I mean really, you think we are going to stand this for much longer? We're just scared that we will lose again, that's all. Once we get enough courage, the Capital will be the next District 13.

But for now, I'm stuck standing in this freaking crowd, waiting for our sacrifices to the Capital to be announced, just like every year. What a loving world we live in.

I absolutely despise the reaping. Every minute of it, that I'm stuck watching, is absolutely horrible. All that they say about how horrible the Dark Days were, are all lies. The Dark Days should be something celebrated, not feared. President Snow must be really messed up.

"Hello, hello!" calls the woman. Ugh, another new Capital trend I guess. I'm not exactly sure what she's done to herself this year, but she could be compared to a lizard. Green scale skin, long pointy nose. I wouldn't be surprised if she had a tail hiding under her dress!

I pay no attention to the crappy film, and look back to where all the poor younger children stand. Some looked scared out of their minds, while others seemed to be trying to act like their older siblings and stay strong. Poor kids.

A peacekeeper gives me an angry glare as he sees me looking back when I should be watching the video like the rest of Panem is. I glare back at him then turn to the stage, where I see District 13 in all it's glory, slowly fading to blackness, and the ruins appearing instead.

"Now then," said the woman, almost in a hiss. A variation of her strong Capital accent. I never did understand these people. "It's time to find out who shall be representing District 9 this year! As always, ladies first!"

Her disgustingly green and scaly hand reaches into the globe. Her pointy little fingers grasp a name, soiling it completely. She gives us a little gross snicker before unfolding the name with a smile, showing off her sharp white teeth.

"Ahem..." she begins, "Miss Reina Xillia?"

Ryder Kieranson POV

"Me?" she calls out. "I was reaped?"

The Capital woman looks confused. She slowly nodded her head at Reina. Reina isn't much older than me, I've seen her around,but I never really spoke to her. She's very outgoing and always seems to speak her mind. Putting her in the games will be interesting.

Reina stands on the stage, tall and proud. She glares down at the crowd, giving a tilted little smile. She seems to be giggling to herself.

"Volunteers?" calls out the woman. Not a single person speaks up.

"Figures," huffs Reina.

"It's nice to meet you Reina!" says the woman, "I'm sure you'll do fabulous!"

Reina tries to tell the woman to call her Rei, but is interrupted by the announcement it is now time to draw the name of the boy.

"Clovis Manata!" she calls out. The crowed goes silent and all attention is directed to the boy who is wheeling himself up the stage, in a wheelchair. I feel a sudden shock of sympathy, he would be the first to go.

I breathe deeply, what do I do? I can't let this boy die! He hasn't a single odd in his favour. I can't let this happen, I can't let the games get unfair. So I call out to volunteer.

I've seen death before, in front of my very own eyes. It was a horrible thing. The blood spurring out, my uncles remains, torn into tiny pieces. All because of that horrible peacekeeper who pushed him into the grain shredder. I remember calling out to him, trying to make him come back. There was no way somebody could come back when their body was torn onto pieces on the floor.

Nobody should see their uncles insides lying across the room from a pile of blood that was once his body. It's like a nightmare that came alive. You don't believe that it's real, you feel like something is messing with your mind.

I was 11 when I saw Uncle Riley be split into pieces. I sat beside him in the pool of blood, or, what I thought was him. So many pieces that could no longer fit together. Long bones sticking out of random articles of skin, soaked in blood. It wasn't real, it couldn't have been.

The peacekeeper had done this to me, he had scared me for life. Every time I look at him, standing at the back of the square, I imagine my uncles carcass that we had to collect, my grandmother screaming out to him. Her own son, she had to gather his pieces. An experience a mother should never have.

I realized something, my mother may see me just as torn up and my uncle. That could be me. Of course, it was too late to change my mind, for I was already shaking hands with Rei.